A group of British lawmakers is calling for targeted sanctions against senior officials in Kyrgyzstan, accusing them of enabling Russia to bypass Western financial restrictions through a controversial cryptocurrency network. The move signals growing concern in London that gaps in global enforcement are allowing Moscow to sustain its war effort in Ukraine despite sweeping sanctions.

In a letter addressed to UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, 26 members of Parliament from multiple parties urged the government to impose personal sanctions on key figures within Kyrgyzstan’s financial and legal system. The lawmakers allege that these officials have facilitated the operation of a ruble-pegged cryptocurrency platform known as A7A5, which they claim is being used extensively by Russian entities to evade international restrictions.

The platform, already under Western sanctions, has reportedly become a critical financial channel for Russian businesses seeking access to foreign currency markets. According to the letter, A7A5 continues to expand despite existing measures, raising questions about the effectiveness of current enforcement mechanisms and the role of third countries in undermining sanctions regimes.

The MPs’ concerns are based in part on findings reported by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, which highlighted the scale and persistence of the alleged scheme. The letter claims that A7A5 has processed as much as $100 billion in transactions, suggesting a vast and well-established network. Separate analysis by blockchain intelligence firm Elliptic previously estimated that the platform handled more than $1 billion in daily transactions at its peak.

At the center of the controversy are several high-ranking........

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